City receives donation to assist riding stables

Merdies Hayes Editor |
5/10/2019, midnight

Power Survey Co., a Secaucus, N.J.-based company that worked with the city of Palmdale to complete specialized inspections of streetlights throughout the city, donated the $50,000 fee paid by the city of Palmdale for their services to local charity Saddle Up Therapeutic Riding Stables.

The check was presented to Saddle Up representative Ray Gray by Palmdale Mayor Steve Hofbauer and Public Works Director Chuck Heffernan on behalf of Power Survey and the City Council.

“Power Survey donated their fee to a local charity as a goodwill gesture to the city of Palmdale for its quick response to this emergency,” said Palmdale City Manager James Purtee. “We not only appreciate the outstanding quality of their work, but their generosity is a testament to the quality of their organization.”

“We are proud to support the team at Saddle Up and the great work they do,” said Thomas Catanese, president and CEO of Power Survey Co. “Saddle Up has earmarked the funds to ensure their program is affordable for all riders in the community, and to purchase a lift system that will enable physically challenged riders to safely mount and dismount therapy horses. A lot of kids and families are going to get an amazing experience at Saddle Up for many years to come.”

In February, the city released a statement instructing residents to steer clear of streetlights citywide. To date staff and contract crews have physically inspected more than half of the lights throughout the city, and rendered all the lights “safe” through the work of Power Survey Co. who completed their inspections within four weeks using state-of-the-art equipment which registers power leakage from the street level without a physical inspection.

When power leakage was detected with this method, physical inspection was performed and faulty wiring corrected. Staff is working diligently to complete physical inspections of the remaining lights in the safest and most effective manner possible.

Founded in 1999, Saddle Up Therapeutic Riding Stables is a non-profit organization which provides a horseback riding program designed for physically and mentally challenged individuals. It is operated by trained personnel and volunteer instructors.